Systems and methods for golf ball selection

ABSTRACT

A system for selecting a golf ball comprises a ballistics data input configured to receive ballistics data for a plurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions; a material data input configured to receive material measurement data for each of the plurality of golf balls; a data structure generation module configured to generate a data structure for each of the plurality of golf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data; an indexing module configured to index the data structures relative to each other; a interactive feedback module configured to solicit and receive launch monitor data and preferences; a modeling module configured to generate a performance model based on the launch monitor data and preferences; and a selection module configured to select one of the plurality of golf balls based on the index and the performance model.

RELATED APPLICATIONS INFORMATION

The application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/492,116, filed Jun. 25, 2009 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/075,334, filedJun. 25, 2008, and entitled “System for Interactively Determining theOptimal Golf Ball for a Golfer,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The embodiments described herein generally relate to automated fittingtechniques for golf equipment, and more particularly to an automatedtechnique for selecting a golf ball.

2. Related Art

The golf ball industry has seen tremendous growth and technologicaladvances in the manufacturing of golf balls since 1999. The introductionand adaptation of multiple piece solid core golf balls to the variousworld professional golf tours at that time has driven manufacturers toexplore the limits of golf ball construction and performance. Whilethese developments have seen much advancement, the industry has seenlittle advancement in the approach to optimally fitting a golfer withthe correct golf ball for their game. The golf ball manufacturers eachprovide golfers with systems that recommend golf balls within theirbrand but none of these systems address the entire golf ball selectionacross brands and in an independent manner which unifies a golfer'splaying characteristics and preferences with specific performancecharacteristics of golf balls.

SUMMARY

A system that correlates ballistics and material measurement dataagainst a golfer profile in order to select a golf ball is disclosedherein.

According to one aspect, a system for selecting a golf ball comprises aballistics data input configured to receive ballistics data for aplurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions; amaterial data input configured to receive material measurement data foreach of the plurality of golf balls; a data structure generation moduleconfigured to generate a data structure for each of the plurality ofgolf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data; anindexing module configured to index the data structures relative to eachother; a interactive feedback module configured to solicit and receivelaunch monitor data and preferences; a modeling module configured togenerate a performance model based on the launch monitor data andpreferences; and a selection module configured to select one of theplurality of golf balls based on the index and the performance model.

These and other features, aspects, and embodiments are described belowin the section entitled “Detailed Description.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and embodiments are described in conjunction with theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for selecting anoptimized golf ball in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example system for carrying out theprocess of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein allow the interactive determination ofan optimal golf ball for a golfer; improving the golfer's experience andallocation of money for value in purchasing the balls and in validatingmanufacturer claims of performance and moving towards better standardsfor measurement of such performance claims. The embodiments describedbelow allow for the creation of a golfer a unique profile through aseries of interactive questions regarding their playing characteristicsand preferences. The system matches this profile to a golf ball datamodel comprising of distance, spin, compression, cover hardness,hotness, and acoustics predictions of all golf balls available. Thesystem identifies and recommends a set of golf balls that best fits thegolfer's profile thus identifying the optimal golf ball(s) for thegolfer. The golfer is then presented with value-for-money comparisonsand options for obtaining the set of optimal golf balls in an economicalmanner. Additionally, the system can be adjusted to only present golfballs that are available within a retailer's existing inventory.

The embodiments described herein are based on the application of astandardized method of ballistics and materials performance measurementsand evaluation techniques to index the relative performance of eachregistered ball in the system, to each and every other ball in thesystem, and then across multiple profiles of potential golfer types.FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for automaticallyselecting a golf ball in accordance with the one embodiment. In step102, ballistic measurements are made for each ball registered with thesystem. The ballistics measurements are based on performance testingprotocols that are standardized and consider a variety of differences inball speed, launch angles, and spin rates. These testing methods alsomeasure ball performance using a plurality of clubs, such as the driver,6-iron, pitching wedge, and putter to create a true full gamecomposition. Swing robots, can be used to generate the ballisticsinformation. Robot swing speeds and profile/set-ups can be establishedto replicate the swings of senior/low ball speed golfers; averagegolfers; and tour caliber/high ball speed players.

Individual ball ballistics are measured on parameters of ball speed,launch angle and spin rate using, e.g., the Max Out Golf™ IGMS System,which is a camera-based launch monitor capture and reporting systemusing color-dot convention to best measure golf ball spin. The IGMS™system allows the determination of optimal flight characteristics usinginternal ball flight optimization equations, including lift/dragparameters that influence aerodynamic flight characteristics of eachball, which are used to confirm the standard set-up conditions prior totesting.

In step 104, material measurements are made for each registered ball.Materials and golf ball construction parameters are evaluated on thedimensions of compression; cover hardness, and a relative “hotness” of aball relative to other balls that influences the feel tendencies agolfer experiences when striking the golf ball.

The ballistics and material measurement data are then stored as a datastructure in step 106. The data structures are then used to index eachregistered golf ball relative to the other registered golf balls in step108. For example, a prediction model can be generated for eachregistered golf ball that considers each golf balls' relativeperformance with respect to each and every other ball in the system basedon the data structures. Such a prediction model can consider anycombination of feasible ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate a golfermay consider/generate using, e.g., the driver, 6-iron, or pitchingwedge.

It will be understood that by measuring the ballistics and material datarelated to the golf ball construction and aerodynamic properties canalso be captured. For example, information related to whether the ballis a 2, 3, or 4 piece design and information related to different typesand uses of cover material can be captured.

In step 110, a plurality of golfer profiles are created and stored.Considering multiple profiles of potential golfer types is important foroptimally fitting a single golf ball or set of like golf balls to agolfer, because the performance result a golfer achieves from any givengolf ball depends on how well the ball performance characteristics arematched to that individual golfer's swing characteristics. Thesecritical characteristics include the speed of the club head imparted onball at impact; the specific golfer's angle of attack in striking theball; the launch angle of the ball at impact; and the spin rate of theball that all combine to affect distance; and control in a golf ball.

Golfer profiles are generated based on swing data for a golfer. In otherwords, an individual data model is generated for each golfer based onany combination of feasible ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate.This includes data models generated for the golfer using, e.g., thedriver, 6-iron, pitching wedge, and putter. Statistical processing andoptimization techniques, such as Ordinary Least Squares Regression(OLSQ), are used to generate one-stage and multi-stage prediction modelsfor each of the golf clubs/conditions considered in the interactiveprofiling system for each golfer. These models are dynamically generatedby inputs provided by the golfer, e.g., launch data information, or byproxies generated from questions asked of the golfer to approximatetheir ball flight and performance set-up. These models are alsodynamically linked to each other and are used to generategolfer-specific data models that underlay the algorithmic fittingmethodology.

For example, in certain embodiments, a golfer is queried on various ballflight characteristics to allow generation of performance proxies whenactual launch monitor data is not available. The data prediction modelsalso consider subtle differences in golfer swing style, such as angle ofattack; and are designed to optimize the result based on environmentalconditions, such as temperature.

In certain embodiments, an Analytical Hierarchal Processing (AHP)general methodology can be used to support the processing of interactiveprofiling questions in the system. Other multi-factor models can then beused to index and rank order performance in support of other elements ofthe processing. The AHP uses the results of a series of pair-wisecomparisons to ascribe weights to the nodes on the AHP decision tree,with a result generated using matrix multiplication.

Further, algorithms within the AHP can consider the tradeoff of keyperformance factors the golfer might consider when evaluating a golfball. These performance factors recognize tradeoffs, e.g., in distance,control, and feel that are important characteristics in choosing onegolf ball over another. The algorithms also consider how feel andcontrol might be considered depending on how close to the hole a golferis; and how important a factor such as feel is given putting, chipping,or pitching. Algorithms also control and normalize for absolute measuresof golf ball measures, such as compression or cover hardness.

The proprietary ballistics and materials measurement data is raw datathat constitutes an array of possible performance outcomes for manycombinations of golf ball and player profile. By collecting performancedata on a cross-sectional basis of set up conditions (and with differentclub types), a gradation of performance across multiple factors orfrontiers can be measured and estimated.

Since each data model is a unique performance gradient; and theaforementioned algorithms are unique and specific to the golfers profileand to the specific weightings applied during the interactive profiler;then each and every fitting session is unique and custom-tailored toeach and every golfer using the system. The combination of these datamodels and weighting schema generate a rank-order result of golf ballsin the system considering the preferences applied to the performanceoptimization by the golfer, and not determined by any outside expertsystem or fixed benchmark.

Further, in some embodiments, the system may present the golfer with amixed golf ball trial set that identifies golf balls that most closelymatch the golfer's top recommendations for best fit in balls andpackaged as a set of those best fit balls (of various brand and modeltypes) in an assembled (economical) offering that allows furtheron-the-course player and practice testing and optimizations of theselection.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example system 200 configured toimplement the process described above with respect to FIG. 1. System 200comprises a profile authority 202 configured to create the datastructures and models described above and to perform the indexing andgolfer feedback routines necessary to generate the golfer specificselection of a golf ball. Thus, profile authority 202 can be configuredto receive ballistics and material measurement data 212 for eachregistered golf ball in system 200. A data structure generation modulecan then cause profile authority 202 to generate the data structures foreach golf ball and store them in database 204. Authority 202 can thenindex the golf balls relative to each other using the data structuresand store the index information. Interactive feedback 210 can then beprovided to authority 202, comprising launch data, proxy responses tointeractive questions, preferences, tendencies, etc., or somecombination thereof. An interactive profiling module can then causeprofile authority 202 to generate the performance models that allows theselection of the optimum golf ball. These models can also be stored indatabase 204. For example, the models can then be used to rank the golfballs based on the indexing.

The term “authority” is intended to refer to the software and hardwarerequired to perform the functions described herein. As such, the termauthority can comprise one or more servers, routers, processors, API's,user interfaces, and software modules.

While certain embodiments have been described above, it will beunderstood that the embodiments described are by way of example only.Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein should not belimited based on the described embodiments. Rather, the systems andmethods described herein should only be limited in light of the claimsthat follow when taken in conjunction with the above description andaccompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for selecting a golf ball, comprising: aballistics data input configured to receive ballistics data for aplurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions; amaterial data input configured to receive material measurement data foreach of the plurality of golf balls; a data structure generation moduleconfigured to generate a data structure for each of the plurality ofgolf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data; anindexing module configured to index the data structures relative to eachother; a interactive feedback module configured to solicit and receivelaunch monitor data and preferences; a modelling module configured togenerate a performance model based on the launch monitor data andpreferences; and a selection module configured to select one of theplurality of golf balls based on the index and the performance model.